Electrical switch device



Jan. 11, 1949. R; F. BECK ELECTRICAL SWITCH DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed- Nov. 6, 1944 Jan. 11, 1949. R, F BECK C 2,458,927

ELECTRICAL SWITCH DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1944 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 reame im. 11,1949

2.453.921 y ELECTRICAL swrrcn DEVICE neben r. Beek, Paterson, N. J., animar to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Teterboro, N. J., a oorporation of Delaware Application November 6, 1944, Serial No. 562,243

4 Cham. (ci. zoo-104) My invention relates to electrical devices and more particularly to switches.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a switch wherein the lface plate is employed for maintaining the switch arm in its various operated positions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch of the foregoing described character wherein the face plate is equipped with resilient means for maintaining the switch arm in the aforementioned positions and which means cooperate with the arm to insure proper positioning thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a switch wherein the face plate is so constructed and arranged as to enclose various components of the switch and to maintain said components -in proper operating relationship when so enclosed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a switch of the foregoing described character equipped with means for maintaining contact means disposed in the switch in a clean and operating condition.

An important object of my invention is to provide a switch of the foregoing described character which is simple in construction, durable'in use, eicient in operation and economical to manufacture.

Another important object of my invention resides in the construction and arrangement of the various components of the switch wherein the' face plate cooperates with the base formaintaining the switch arm in an operating position and permits ready disassembly of components soley upon removal of the face plate.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear,the invention consists in the combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views. y

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of thel face plate.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line Figure 5 is a perspective view of the switch arm.

i Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified orm.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on a line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the face plate disclosed in Figures and 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-8 of\ Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the switch arm disclosed in Figures 6 and 7.

ing the base and to which is detachably secured,

by means of screws 22, a face plate or closure 23. The block 2i is constructed of insulating material and is formed with a recess 24 defining end, side and bottom walls 25. 26 and 2l respectively, the end walls having embedded therein threaded sleeves 28 for the reception of the screws 22. Within the recess 24, the bottom wall has secured thereto a pair of Contact fingers or brushes 29 and 30 which are connected to the inner ends of binding posts 3i and 32 extending through the bottom wall and having attached theretothe terminals of conductors or wires 33 and 2l respectively forming part of an electrical circuit adapted to be controlled by the switch 20.

Extending into the recess 24 is a switch arm 35 constructed of insulating material and having inner and outer end sections '36 and 31 respectively. The outer section 31 is of an elongated connguration to provide a finger piece for facilitating manual operation of the arm, while the inner section 26 is of a substantially cylindriform construction and is formed, on one side, with a portion 38 defining a pair of angularly related faces 39 and lo respectively joined by a curved cam-like surface il and, on its opposite side, with a spacer 42. The inner section 36 has extending therethrough a pivot or shaft I3 journaled in the block 2i to permit rocking or oscillatory movement of the arm 25 with respect to the block, the section 2B having secured in its peripheral face a metallic contact strip Il for engaging and bridging the contact brushes 29 and 8l when the arm is disposed in circuit closing position as illustrated in full lines in Figure 3, the strip 44 being out of engagement with the brush 28 in the open circuit position of `the arm illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3.

The face plate 23 is provided with a slot 45 through which the outer section 31 of the arm 35 extends for operation and is integrally formed, adjacent the slot, with a finger 46 yieldably engaging one of the faces 39 or 40 to maintain the arm in an operated position with the strip 44 either in or out of engagement with both of the brushes 29 and 30 as the case may be. The face plate serves the dual purpose of a closure for the switch and the means for maintaining the switch in an operated position.

It is to be noted that the surface 4| of the faces, when the arm is rotated to open or close the circuit, forces the finger 46 away from the faces and thus coacts with the finger to permit the latter, when the surface 4| is disposed over the dead center or neutral position of the arm, to impart a snap action to the arm and insure actuation of the arm to its proper position. The inner end section 36 of the arm, adjacent the left end of the strip, as viewed in Figure 2 of the drawings, is provided with a transverse surface creepage groove 41 for preventing surface current bridging of the contact brush when the switch arm is in circuit open position.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive of the drawings, the switch 50 is provided with the block 5| having detachably secured thereto the face or closure 52. The block is constructed of insulating material and is formed with a recess into f which extends the switch arm 53, the latter having an inner section 54 of a substantially cylindriiorm construction and formed, on both sides,

' with portions 55 and 56 respectively, each defining a pair of angularly related faces 51 and 58 respectively. 'I'he portions 55 and 56 are each integrally formed on its outermost side with a trunnion or pivot 58 disposed in the end of a vertical elongated slot 68 formed in the block to permit rocking or oscillatory movement of the arm with respect to the block and ready removal of the arm upon detachment of the face plate.

The face plate 52 is provided with a slot 6| through which the outer end section of the arm 53 extends for operation and is integrally formed, adjacent and laterally of the slot 6|, withY a. pair of ngers 62 and 63 yieldably engaging coincident faces 51 or 58 of the portions 55 and 56 to maintain the arm in an operated position and the trunnions 59 seated in the ends of the slots 60. The face plate 52 serves the triple purpose of a closure for the switch, means for maintaining the switch arm in an operated position, and for maintaining the trunnions seated.

In the modication ofthe invention illustrated in Figures 11 to 13 inclusive of the drawings, the switch 10 is provided with a block or base 1| 'to which is detachably secured the face plate or closure 12, the block being constructed of insulating material having incorporated therein an abrasive material, for instance, emery. The base is formed with a recess 13 defining end,` side and bottom walls 14, 15 and 16 respectively, while, within the recess, the bottom wall has secured thereto a pair of spaced contact iingers or brushes 11 which are connected to the inner ends of spaced binding posts 18 extending through the bottom wall and having attached thereto the terminals of conductors or wires 19, respectively, forming part 4 of an electrical circuit adapted to be controlled by the switch 10.

Extending into the recess 13 is a switch arm constructed of insulating material and having an inner end section of a substantially cylindriformconstruction and which is formed, on both sides, with portions 82 each defining a pair of angularly related faces 83. The inner end section 8| has secured to its peripheral face a metallic contact strip 84 for engaging and bridging the contact brushes," when the arm is disposed in circuit closing position, the strip being seated in a concave seat formed in the inner face of the bottom wall 16 as illustratedin Figures 11 and 12 and which construction permits rocking or oscillatory movement of the arm for opening and closing the circuit.

The face plate 12 is provided with a slot 86 through which the outer end section of the arm 88 extends for operation and is integrally formed, on both sides of the slot, with fingers 81 yieldably engaging coincident faces 83 of the portions 82 to maintain the arm in an operated position with the strip 84 either in or out of engagement with both of the brushes 11 as the case may be.

While the face plate 12 serves to enclose the switch, the fingers 81 not only maintain the switch arm in an operation position, but also maintain the lower portion of the inner section within the seat 85 and with the contact strip 84 in rotative engagement therewith. By' thus maintaining the contact strip 84 in rotative engagement with the seat 85, the strip is subjected to the action of the abrasive material and is thus kept clean at all times, the'bottom wall being provided, between the brushes 11 with an opening 88 charged out of the l, switch by the switch arm.

With particular reference to the modifications, it will be apparent that by detaching the face plate, the switchv arm may be removed. Furthermore, by utilizing the face plate as a means for enclosing the switch, maintaining the arm in a desired position and in operating relation'to other components; and for yieldably holding the contact strips against the abrasive material of the bottom wall, many parts are eliminated as compared to switches of an ordinary construction. While in the various forms of the invention as disclosed, the face plates are preferably con- -structed of metal to provide resilient and yieldable iingers, any other suitable material may be utilized, for instance, plastic, that is possessed of sufiicient yieldability or resiliency to permit the fingers to perform their various functions as set forth and described herein.

It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described as the same is onlyillustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in various forms,V

one position to another, a face plate secured to said base and closing the open ends of said slots, said face plate being provided with a slot receiving said arm for operation therethrough and integrally formed with resilient fingers engaging one pair of said fiat faces to restrain said arm in one of said positions and for engaging another pair of said fiat faces to restrain said arm in the other position when said arm is so operated, said fingers cooperating with said portion to maintain said trunnions seated in said elongated slots and thus permit rotation of said arm.

2. In -a switch construction, a base provided with an arcuate seat having an abrasive surface, a movable operating arm extending into said base provided with angularly related plane faces and having a portion disposed in said seat for movement therein, said portion being provided with a conducting bridge subtending a portion of the angle between said faces engaging said surface, contact members mounted on the base for alternate open-circuit and closedbridglng circuit position relative to said bridge, and a face plate secured to said base and formed with means yieldably engaging said faces to maintain said conducting bridge in engagement with said surface to effect cleaning thereof upon operation of said arm within said base.

3. In a switch construction, a base having opposed walls defining a recess and a wall between said walls laterally thereof formed with an arcuate seat having an abrasive surface, a movable contact operating arm pivoted about a fixed axis having an endsection provided on each side with a portion defining a pair of angularly related nat faces and an arcuate face, contract members mounted on the base, a conducting bridge carried by said arcuate face and seated in said seat in contact therewith and providing for rotation of said arm between open and closed circuit position of said bridge relative to said contact members, a face plate secured to said base and provided with a slot receiving said arm for operation therethrough and integralLv formed with resilient fingers engaging one of said flat faces at each side of said arm end section to restrain said arm in one of said positions and for engaging the other of said flat faces at each of said sides to restrain said arm in the other position when said arm is so operated, said fingers cooperating with said portions to maintain said member in frictional engagement with said surface to effect cleaning of said member during operation of said arm.

4. In -a switch construction. a base having opposed walls with their confronting faces defining the sides of elongated recess means open at one end and closed at the other end by means including an arcuate abrasive surface, contact members supported by the base in said recess adjacent to opposite ends of said arcuate surface, respectively, a movable contact operating arm having a portion provided with angularly related faces disposed in said recess, an arcuate conducting bridge carried by said arm and subtending the angle between said faces and adapted to engage said abrasive surface during movement of the arm carrying said bridge between closed circuit bridging position and open circuit nonbridging position relative to said contact members, said portion being provided with laterally extending bearing means journaled in said base to permit rotation of said arm between said positions, a closure Yface plate for the open end of said recess means secured to said base, said plate being provided with a slot receiving said arm for operation therethrough and f integrally formed with resilient finger means engaging one of said faces to restrain vsaid arm in one of said positions and for engaging another of said faces to restrain -said arm in the other of said positions when said arm is so operated, said linger means cooperating with said portion to bias said bridge into yieldable engagement with said abrasive surface.

ROBERT F. BECK.

REFERENCES crrEn The following .references are of record in the file of this patent:

Great Britain Nov. 24, 1939 

